Sophomore Elyse Pollack ’18 was accepted into the 2015-2016 Los Angeles Youth Council. Founded in 2014, the council is a year-long fellowship for local high school students to “hone their leadership skills in the areas of political and civic engagement and community volunteerism,” their website states.

“The Youth Council is a place where teens can help advocate for a just and equitable Los Angeles for all,” Pollack said. “I thought it was a very good idea to join this opportunity because I would be able to strengthen my leadership skills and help the greater Los Angeles youth.”

Youth Council students are empowered to create a better Los Angeles through monthly meetings, service projects, professional development trainings and guest speakers.

“The service projects are about topics that Angeleno youths face such as gender, race, environmental issues, and transportation. We will be coming up with projects to help our future in Los Angeles,” Pollack said.